It's elementary, my dear Watson...

SCHS to stage Sherlock Holmes next week

Costumes that fit the Sherlock Holmes' era are worn by (L-R) Esther Ramos, playing a flower girl in knee pants, Andrea Schutt wearing a gown made especially for the play by Linda Freepons, and Caitlin Aleman, whose elegant gown was donated by the Christian Thrift Shop

Sunnyside Christian High School will stage a challenging performance next Tuesday and Wednesday, May 16 and 17, as they present Sherlock Holmes to the public at 6 p.m. each evening.

"This was a very tough play to cast, and we have a very large cast and crew," said Beth Kapteyn, a second-year teacher who is directing her second play for SCHS.

Some of her key players have never been on stage before, Kapteyn said.

"But they are doing amazingly well," she said.

If nothing else, the costumes alone would be worth the $3 admission price.

Culled from the Christian Thrift Shop in Sunnyside, which has donated the outfits, the vintage look of sweeping skirts, lacy hats and newspaper kids in knee pants is well suited to the times of Sherlock Holmes.

Matt Haak is taking the role of Sherlock Holmes, complete with pipe and magnifying glass. His adversary, Professor Moriarty, is played by Adrian Van Oostrum.

A central character in the play is Alice Faulkner, played by Jessica Schrotenboer, who provides the romantic interest for Holmes.

"Alice has a small, romantic fling with Sherlock, although he tries to dissuade her," said Kapteyn.

Dr. Watson is played by Justin Burgers, and the ring leader of a group of crooks, Mrs. Bassick, is played by Megan DeGroot.

Another evil group, whose roles are taken by Rayann Van Beek, Luke Meininger and Jamie Durbin, bands together to imprison Alice (the damsel in distress) for reasons of their own.